CAW begins Big Three bargaining talks

CANADA: The IMF-affiliated Canadian Auto Workers have begun collective bargaining talks with the "Big Three" automakers - General Motors of Canada Ltd., DaimlerChyrsler Inc. and Ford of Canada Ltd. The current contracts, which cover 46,387 CAW members, will expire on September 17, 2002. The union has announced that in addition to key demands for job and income security, substantial wage increases and improved time off the job, the need to address the question of a potential plant closure at each of the companies is also a high priority in the negotiations. According to the CAW, it intends to seek a written commitment from the Big Three to investment and jobs in Canada, as well as a commitment from the federal government to get all auto producers who are selling in Canada to increase their commitment to jobs and investment in Canada. However, stated the union's president, Buzz Hargrove, "no one should misread our concern and our campaign on strengthening the overall industry in Canada as a weakness in our bargaining program." The CAW will soon announce which of the three automakers will be the target company, for which the deadline for the first agreement is set for midnight Tuesday, September 17.